Slouch Hat - Slouch Hat in Australia

Slouch Hat in Australia

The slouch hat was first worn by military forces in Australia in 1885 when the newly created Victorian Mounted Rifles wore the hat as part of their khaki uniform. On 22 December 1890, the military commanders of the then separate Australian Colonies prior to the Federation of Australia met to discuss the introduction of the khaki uniform throughout Australia. They agreed that all Australian Forces with the exception of the Artillery would wear the slouch hat. It was to be looped up on one side — Victoria and Tasmania on the right and the other colonies (later states) on the left. This was done so that rifles could be held at the slope without damaging the brim.

After Federation, the slouch hat became standard Australian Army headgear in 1903 and since then it has developed into an important national symbol.

The Slouch hat (also known as a Hat KFF, or Hat Khaki Fur Felt) is worn as the standard ceremonial headress for all members of the army, except those belonging to units or corps that have an official headress, e.g., some units wear a beret. As such, it is treated with the utmost care and respect. The Grade 1 Slouch hat is worn with a seven band puggaree, said to represent the six states and the territories of Australia, the soldiers' Unit Colour Patch (right of puggaree), Corps or Regiment Hat badge (front of puggaree) and the General Service Badge (The Rising Sun, on the left brim); and the left brim is folded up and clipped into place. The Grade 2 Slouch hat is worn with the left brim down and the Rising Sun badge removed. The decision to remove the Rising Sun badge was made to ensure Army’s emblem is never worn in a disrespectful manner. Like the Australian National Flag, the Rising Sun Badge should never point to the ground, hidden from view or placed face down on the ground. It is worn in some units as general duty dress — the wide brim giving excellent sun protection. Most soldiers will have a second hat to wear as their Grade 2 Slouch hat.

The Slouch Hat worn by the Army is one of the ADF's trademarks, but it is not theirs alone: the Royal Australian Air Force wears the HKFF with a dark blue or "Air Force Blue" Puggaree, as a Non Ceremonial head dress for the RAAF; the Royal Australian Navy is also known to wear the hat when wearing camouflage and other uniforms, and has the same features as the RAAF's HKFF. The RAAF and RAN Slouch Hats do not have unit colour patches, nor do they wear it brim up; instead the only badge worn is the RAAF or RAN cap badge, of a design appropriate to the wearer's rank, at the front of puggaree.

The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) for their slouch hats wear a jungle green coloured puggaree with no colour patch, this dates back to traditions when serving in Malaya. Prior to the RAAF varying some of its Service Dress Uniform the RAAF also used to wear a Blue Slouch hat, with a black or blue puggaree and the Khaki for the HKFF puggaree had a blue band. Staff Cadets at the Royal Military College, Duntroon also wear a darker pugaree, although the origins of this are uncertain, while they also wear the chin strap of the hat the opposite way around from that of the rest of the Army, as the first commandant of the college, William Throsby Bridges, was wounded at Gallipoli (to later die) wearing his slouch hat in this fashion.

Some units of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps such as cavalry and light horse regiments wear emu plumes behind the Rising Sun badge. This is a reference to a practice dating from World War 1, where Light Horsemen would chase down emus and steal their feathers to mount in their hat as a mark of their riding skill.

Within the Australian Army, mixing articles of uniform and civilian attire is known as mixed dress and prohibited. Removing all badges as well as the puggaree removes the hat's status as uniform and it may be worn with civilian dress.